H.S. softball: NJSIAA investigates IC transfers

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association will convene a hearing Wednesday to ascertain whether a pair of Immaculate Conception softball players had a bona fide change of address when they transferred from Paramus.

"We have to bring the people in and talk to them about this and figure out what is truly legitimate," said NJSIAA assistant director Larry White.

Paramus athletic director Don Roll said he could not comment on the situation. A message left for Immaculate Conception athletic director/softball coach Jeff Horohonich was not answered.

The Blue Wolves are scheduled to play Lodi in the second round of the Bergen County tournament today.

The two girls have played all season and remain eligible because, according to White, they are already outside of the 30-day window for when transfer students normally have to sit.

On Wednesday the NJSIAA received a package that contained pictures showing the girls not at the residence they filed on their transfer form with Paramus High School. Immaculate Conception was notified and responded by sending utility bills and other information to the NJSIAA, according to White, demonstrating its belief that the players had moved. The decision to convene a hearing was made Friday.

White said Friday this is the first time in more than four years that someone had challenged a transfer solely on the basis of an improper change of address.

White was in the process of putting a committee together to meet Wednesday morning in Robbinsville.

Usually, the Eligibility Appeals Committee hears a matter like this, but in order to expedite the process, a three-member protest committee could hear the case if not enough EAC members can attend Wednesday morning. Representatives from Paramus and Immaculate Conception are expected to attend the hearing. Both sides are entitled to have legal counsel present as well.

If the committee finds in favor of Paramus, the punishments could be severe. The Blue Wolves, now 18-1, could have to forfeit all of the games the two girls appeared in through the first 30 days of the season.

The school could also be put on probation.

White said there are mitigating circumstances because Paramus signed off on the transfer form and that could reduce what punishments are handed out.

A decision against Immaculate Conception could also have a ripple effect through North Jersey. The team would be stripped of power points and all of the teams the Blue Wolves have played would see their power points impacted, potentially changing their seeding for the state tournament.

The NJSIAA is scheduled to seed the tournament Wednesday.

Currently, students who transfer from one school to another have to sit out 30 days of athletic competition unless they prove a change of address, which makes them eligible immediately.

This topic has come under increasing scrutiny by the NJSIAA recently, and a proposal to have the full membership of the organization vote on whether to extend the waiting period to 45 days for students going from a public school to a non-public school was defeated Wednesday.

The Blue Wolves are the defending Non-Public B state softball champions and currently ranked No. 3 in The Record softball Top 25.